French Presidential Election

French President Emmanuel Macron advocated Tuesday for his contested plan to increase the pension eligibility age as part of the pro-business policies he has promoted since he took office in 2017, saying people need to work a little longer to make the system financially sustainable. Macron visited the Rungis International Market in the southern suburbs of Paris for his first public discussion with French workers since lawmakers started debating the government's pension-reform legislation earlier this month, prompting series of strikes and protests. The bill, which the Senate expects to start considering on March 2, would push back the minimum retirement age from 62 to 64 and require people to have worked for at least 43 years to be entitled to a full pension, amid other measures. People know that yes, on average, you have to work a little longer, all of them, because otherwise we won't be able to finance our pensions properly, Macron said. All French retirees receive a state pensio

Although the still-divided political landscape could see economic reforms watered down, S&P Global said

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Macron, a pro-European centrist who became president in 2017 after easily beating Le Pen when voters rallied behind him to keep the far-right out of power, is facing a much tougher challenge this time

Macron accused Le Pen of lying to voters about her campaign platform as he sought to rally support two days before the presidential election's first round

The trial of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy concludes Tuesday in Paris.

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Emmanuel Macron is to become the next president of Franc

Voting will begin on the mainland at 11:30 am IST in 66,546 polling stations

France faces a choice between many things as it votes to elect either Le Pen or Macron as president

Macron is pitted against Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right National Front

The hacking has lead to the diffusion of 'various internal information' on the social media: Macron

Emmanuel Macron's programme recognises elements of the German approach

This comes after Donald Trump had earlier spoken positively about Marine Le Pen

Macron is facing far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in Sunday's runoff vote

Polls this week conducted before the TV debate showed Macron leading by 60 per cent